THE NRL has upheld sanctions against Sharks coach Shane Flanagan, former trainer Trent Elkin and the club itself.

Flanagan will remained banned for 12 months (minimum nine), Elkin’s registration has been cancelled and the Cronulla club faces a $1 million fine ($400,000 suspended), NRL boss Dave Smith confirmed at a press conference today at Rugby League Central.

The Daily Telegraph reported earlier this week that the NRL was unlikely to overturn the initial penalties, which relate to Cronulla’s 2011 supplements program.

Smith said that after a thorough review of the matter, he determined there was no cause to overturn the provisional findings he delivered on December 17.

Smith today said Cronulla had “breached (the NRL) code of conduct in several respects and that Mr Flanagan and Mr Elkin were responsible for several of those failings”.

He said Cronulla must complete an independednt governance review. Flanagan must observe conditions of his suspension, complete a comprehensive training course and understand his responsibilities as an NRL coach should he want to secure a ban reduction.

“We want no direct or indirect involvement with the club during his suspension,” Smith said on Flanagan.

“If we find there is a situation where Shane or anyone else goes outside those rules (direct or indirect contact), then Shane risks the ability to come back within nine months.”

Smith acknowledged the potential for legal action against the upheld findings.

“Legal action is a matter for the parties concerned. What this does is we control what we can control,” he said.

“These are serious issues and commensurate with that we have issued a serious response.”

Smith said he was now hopeful looming ASADA findings would be forthcoming quickly, with little clarity available on exactly what occurred at the Sharks during 2011.

Cronulla is yet to learn if further sanctions will be brought down by ASADA, which has undertaken a long-running probe, with penalties against players still a possibility.

“I’m clearly pleased that ASADA has reached the end of their information gathering stage and I look forward to a conclusion over the next few months,” Smith said.

Smith urged Sharks fans to maintain their support of the club.

“My message to the Sharks fans is that they have a good board, they are a strong club and get right behind them,” he said.

Smith was also damning in his original findings, declaring of Cronulla that there was “serious failure to safeguard the health and welfare of its players”.

Flanagan was deemed to have “failed to ensure a safe and healthy work environment” and “failed to properly supervise the head of strength and conditioning (Elkin)”.

Elkin was deemed to have - Exposed players to significant potential risks to health;

- Exposed players to possible breaches of the NRL Anti-Doping Rules;

- Allowed persons without the necessary qualifications and training to administer supplements by injection;

- Personally injected players without adequate qualifications and training to do so; and

- Failed to obtain the fully informed consent of players to the administration of particular supplements.

Elkin was also declared to have failed in his obligation to inform club doctor, David Givney, of changes he made to the club’s supplement program.

The club is yet to learn if further sanctions will be brought down by ASADA, which has undertaken a long-running probe, with penalties against players still a possibility.

Flanagan recently fell foul of the NRL by attending a Sharks trial match, though he escaped any penalty after arguing that he was merely watching his son play an earlier game.